FREE in-person digital skills classes for older people will rollout across the country from Tuesday, as part of the Hi Digital partnership initiative between Vodafone Ireland Foundation, Active Retirement Ireland and ALONE.
In County Limerick, the first class will be held at Croom Community Enterprise Centre on Thursday, May 12 from 11am.
Hi Digital was developed to bridge the worsening digital divide in Ireland and support older people with little or no digital skills to get online.
Active Retirement Ireland’s in-person classes are now available to book and are open to any person over 65 who would like to develop their digital literacy with guidance and support alongside other older people in their community.
Classes are run by trained digital ambassadors who offer face-to-face training and guidance so older people can develop their skills in a relaxed and supportive environment.
The Hi Digital training course consists of bite-sized lessons organised around key digital themes including internet basics and how to use online devices, as well as digital apps and features such as social media or video calling that can enhance daily life and combat isolation.
Topics covered include sending emails, keeping in touch with friends and family through social media or video calling, accessing online banking and government services online. Other lessons focus on accessing the internet by phone, online shopping, sharing pictures or videos and online safety.
Active Retirement Ireland chief executive Maureen Kavanagh said that the Hi Digital programme is about giving older people in Ireland more choices and empowering them to learn the skills they need if they want to get online.
The Hi Digital programme is delivered across the strands: online learning using Vodafone Ireland Foundation’s Hi Digital online platform, face to face classroom learning run by Active Retirement Ireland, and the upskilling by ALONE of organisations who work to support older people so that they can provide Hi Digital training and guidance to their service users directly.
Anyone wishing to attend a class can book their place by contacting Active Retirement Ireland on 1800 20 30 30, or by emailing hidigital@activeirl.ie
